Cleaning brackets is necessary because some foods and beverages can stain them, but incorrect attempts to clean them can often cause more harm than good. From proper techniques to specific brushes, we will guide you to the safest and most effective ways to maintain your brackets.
Proper Techniques
So you’ve had some coffee, red wine, or other product that has stained your teeth, and you might be tempted to scrub on them with a brush for a couple of minutes—don’t do it! Brackets can be fragile, and bands can break, so it’s better to find a more gentle approach. One such method is to use an electric toothbrush, but instead of scrubbing, very gently press it against the brackets and hold it there for a few seconds; this is much less harsh of an action than scrubbing, and will leave your brackets clean and intact. Also make sure that the bristle is soft so that your brackets are not damaged. Another effective and gentle method that you can try is an air-polishing device, but ask us first. The air-polishing device works by spraying a jet of air and cleaning agent to pressure wash the stain away; this is a gentle enough approach to keep your brackets intact, and can quickly be applied to all of your brackets. If you have braces with rubber bands, they may stain with time, but these can be cleaned easily too. Prepare a salt water solution with a quarter cup of warm water and two tablespoons of salt. Remove the rubber bands from the brackets, and place them in the solution. Let them soak for 5-10 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, rub the bands in the solution to remove any excess food or stains and put them back onto your brackets. These were a few ways that you can keep your brackets securely on your teeth, and we look forward to seeing you for your next appointment.
